Eleusinian Mysteries & Rites

by Dudley Wright

An investigation of the Eleusinian mysteries, supposed by some to be the predecessors of Masonic rites. Contents: Eleusinian legend/ Ritual of the mysteries/ Program of the greater mysteries/ Initiatory rites/ Their mystical significance/ Bibliography.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Mythology, Spirituality, Religion

112 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Anastasja Kostic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jako mi je bilo zanimljivo to što antički filozofi uopšte nisu verovali u bogove i nisu hteli da se posvete i izvrše taj obred eleusinskih misterija koji se inače smatrao za nešto vrlo prestižno i oni su njih čak i molili da dođu, ali su ih oni odbili na primer Sokrat i ih je odbio. Mislim ko bi rekao da oni nisu ni u šta verovali i da su zbog toga imali i problema mislim biti ateista je u savremeno doba nekako normalno i široko rasprostranjeno. Doduše da nisu verovali u ništa verovatno sada ne bismo ni znali za njih Elem desilo se tako da je Aristotelu umrla žena (ko bi rekao da je Aristotle uopšte imao ženu , dodše ja sam se uvek eto nekako pitala da li su se on i Platon i Sokrat oženili (i ko bi njih trpeo), mislim stvarno ko bi to mogao da zamisli ide Aristotel po svojoj kući i za njime ide njegova đena i dere se zašto si opet bacio prljavu togu na pod, jesam li ti sto puta rekla da je ne ostavljap tu i tome slično, elem nije to sad ni bitno elem i sad Aristotel je ne znajući pri toj sahrani primenio nekoliko obreda iz tih misterija iako on sam nije bio u njih upućen (izgleda da mu je njegova žena naredila kako treba da postupi u slučaju da ume prva i eto nekako je izmislila nešto što već postoji) i eto on zamalo zbog toga da završi na sudu , jer je bio izrazito zabranjeno da se u javnost iznose detalji tih obreda i mi ni danas ne znao iz čega su se oni saastojali, pa autor njige uglavnom nagađa ili iznosi neke detalje koji su nam poznati zbog sličnih sporova ili nekih ismevanja u vidu dramskih tekstova. Meni je samo eto bilo zanimljivo kako su oni eto hteli da osude čoveka samo zato što je voleo sopstvenu ženu, što je priznajete poprilično smešna situacija i retko se sreće. Elem Aristotel je bio poprilično simpatičan čovek, a antički grci su baš ozbiljno shvatali svoja religijska shvatanja, ali na sreću po njega sve su optužbe odbačene, jer on nije mogao da zna da je sve to deo nekakvog rituala u kome se venčavaju Demetra i Zevs, mislim kako je on to mogo da zna kada mu on lično nije nikada prisustvovao. Doduše vrlo je zanimljivo i to što su neki tražili da se prosveta na primer Marko Aurelije. Inače ove misterije su posvećene Demetri i Persefoni boginjama zemlje i proleća i to je nekakv praznik koji traje dvet dana i neka tri stepena prosvećenja, uopšte vrlo je zanimljivo kao i sama činjenica da su navodno Demetra i Persefona naučile Grke da seju žito i da je to odprilike bio početak njihove civilizacije, a mogao je jednako tako da bude i kraj u slučaju da eto nisu posejali žito i da su recimo poslušali nekog sličnog Aristoteu koji bi ono rekao da je najbolje da ne poseju ništa , a ladno su im mogli reći , a šta vi znate vi ste samo glupe žene, jer navodno u trećem stepenu bi saopštili prosvećenicima da su Demeta i Persefona bile samo obične žene ( u šta ja lično sumnjam sa obzirom na to da ih nisu ubili kada su im one nametnule neke moralne norme nego su im još i podigli hram). Ko god da su one bile svaka njima čast. Elem taj treći stepen isto tako objašnjavao šta se dešava u zagrobnom životu itd.

[Suzanne Thackston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this book deserved an easy 4 or even a 5. But it got dragged down by the rather shocking amount of wacky ideas presented as scholarly fact. In the preface, on the very first page, it's posited that, rather than Freemasonry rites being based on Eleusis, it could well be the other way around.
Really? A Hellenic Mystery that stretches back at least as far as the Mycenaean era yoinked its inner sanctum structure from the Freemasons?
It was hard to take much seriously after that opening.
The quality of some of the information can't be denied.
But somewhere in the middle we have the tired misconception that Plato's One *really* means that not only Plato but the Mysteries themselves were created to support monotheism. Not only that, but the third level Mysteries are themselves a rejection of polytheism.
Seriously.
And it winds up with Euhemerism. 'Some writers' (not named, naturally) 'the initiates of the third degree were taught that the gods and goddesses were only dead mortals, subject while alive to the same passions and infirmities as themselves; and they were taught to look upon the Supreme Cause, the Creator of the Universe, as pervading all things by His virtue and governin all things by His power.'
Just about as sanctimonious and evangelistic as the opening to the Prose Eddas.
Bah.
Also too many editorial snafus, like transposing Plato for Pluto. Which wouldn't happen if the author hadn't insouciantly interchanged the Roman and Greek gods.
Now I'm pissed off all over again. I'm changing my 3 stars to 2. You can't give information this blatantly wrong and trust that the good stuff you've sprinkled in will make it okay.

[Imbunche · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, this is a good read, but as a scholary book, it presets itself to be, it's severly lacking - the author makes a lot of claims (some of them really outlandish) that he doesn't back with anything.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has some good detailed information, but unfortunately the first few pages (where he claims the Masons originated the structure of the Mysteries) throws his crediblity out the window. I have a lot of information to cross check now. Assuming (the rest of his info checks out), it isn't a bad primer to what we have been able to learn about The Mysteries.

[Alice ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read by a Masonic scholar with some details/information regarding the Mysteries with some information that I had never heard before, but the author presents a number of claims/ideas as facts without any form of sources or citations. It's not something I would take as a piece of academic writing, but would consider something interesting to read if you're interested in the subject.

[Damon Lurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read. Would recommend to anyone interested in The Mysteries. Admittedly the book is thin on sources, but a lot of what has been alluded to here has been explored in different registers, greater detail, and with better referencing, in The Immortality Key—which itself is perhaps slightly more speculative in certain facets, but more factually grounded in others. I consider Dudley’s account to be an horizon broadening account, one which is interesting but not necessarily authoritative. To be sure, there is much research that needs to be done on this matter, but this is surely a text which is constructive to the goal of attaining a comprehensive understanding.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, if not dated, overview of the rites and believes of the ancient world as could best be re-constructed at the time. Largely dry and meandering (a task for a slim volume!), it waits until the last minute to really kick in. Chapter V discusses the spirtual and psychological impact and meanings of the mysteries. I would have liked more on this - lots more. But I guess that's were folks like Joseph Campbell come into play? Interesting and brief enough for it's dryness not to become insumountable.

[Kara Demetropoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and illuminating overview of the Eleusinian Mysteries. The information presented here is arranged into sections beginning with a historical overview of the rituals, followed by an account of the specifics of each day of the ritual, and followed by a section outlining the cultural significance and overall symbolic meaning of the rituals. The author leaves you with much to ponder, and many avenues for further research to traipse down.

[Tori Lovelace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say this is a great book with a lot of interesting insight on the practical execution and metaphorical properties of the Mysteries. It gets a little weird in the middle where there are some claims with no source or we jump around a lot in what’s being talked about. Other than that a quick read, providing good background knowledge of what we know about the Mysteries.

[Colin Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating to read about the various rituals and the secrecy of the rights of the Greek cult.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a short book but incredibly dense and synthetic. Nice introduction for any student of the Mysteries.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but thorough and well researched. The author did a great job of explaining the mysteries and their origins. He also takes you through as many details of the rituals themselves as possible. I would not read this book if you are not familiar with ancient Greek culture and/or the myth of Persephone.

[Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

low review, maybe because it was not what i was expecting. if you want rituals, and magick, and blood, this is not for you. I was looking for something esoteric and apart from religion. these cults were the religion. not horrible though if you want information on the cultus.

[Scotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marvelous little book. Of especial interest to those seeking the mysteries of the O.T.O.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful to learn about Eleusis mysteries, but you might need a bit of previous knowledge regarding Demeter and Persephone to enjoy it more.